Golf putting training device



p 26, 1967 A. c. WOERNER 3,343,842

Filed May 4, 1964 ALFRED C. WOERNER United States Patent 3,343,842 GOLF PUTTING TRAINING DEVICE Alfred C. Woerner, 3716 Eagle St., San Diego, Calif. 92103 Filed May 4, 1964, Ser. No. 364,521 3 Claims. (Cl. 273186) The present invention relates generally to a putting guide and more particularly to such a guide which will enable one learning golf to practice putting with precision and thereby learn to putt more accurately.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved putting guide which will be effective to train a golfer to develop a true pendlum swing with a proper straight line stroke for putting.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a guide which will train a golfer against a tendency to hook the ball at the end of the putting stroke.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved putting guide which may be easily and simply adjusted by a golfer.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved putting guide which is adjustably supported on a golfers foot leaving the other foot free to assume the desired putting stance.

Finally, it is an object to provide a putting guide of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my improved putting guide;

FIGURE 2 is a top view showing the guide in use; and

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the shown in FIGURE 2.

Probably more strokes are wasted on the golf green than anywhere else on the golf course. The art of good putting can only be mastered after long and continued practice. Accuracy of stroking is more important with the putter than with any other club because of the small target at which the ball is directed, the cup having a diameter of about 4% inches. The relation of the club face with the ball, the are of movement of the club head to develop a true pendulum swing and the point of impact of the club head with the ball are all important factors in developing good putting form. My putting guide is based on these considerations.

Referring to the drawing there is shown one form of my improved putting guide and the manner in which it is used during practice. It is to be understood that this guide can be used with equal facility both indoors and outdoors.

Reference numeral indicates the guide member or rail along which the club head is guided during the practice putting stroke. This guide member may be made from any suitable sheet material, transparent plastic having been found to be particularly satisfactory since in use the ground is visible through it and it does not offer any distracting appearance. The forward or guiding edge 12 is uninterrupted and substantially straight, as shown. Secured to the guide member 10, at substantially the center thereof so that the ends are free, is a support arm 14 also formed of any suitable sheet material, metal or plastic, of the desired strength. This support arm preferably extends at an angle to the guide member 10 so that the forward guide in the position 3,343,842 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 end 16 of the guide member may be properly positioned with respect to the putter at the forward end of the stroke.

The guide member or rail is adapted to be held a slight distance above and parallel to the putting surface in position to be engaged by the putter shaft slightly above the club head. To this end an inverted generally U-shaped bracket 18 is provided. This bracket consists of a top portion 20 having downwardly extending resilient legs 22 and 24 which are turned inwardly to form flanges 26 and 28 respectively, collectively constituting a base for the bracket, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. Secured to the top 20, centrally thereof, is a screw threaded stud 30 on which is threaded a conventional wing nut 32. As shown in FIGURE 1, stud 30 extends through an elongated slot 34 in support 14. Tightening of wing nut 32 on stud 30 will clamp the support 14 in adjusted position on the bracket 18. As clearly illustrated in the drawing the length of the guide rail is several times as great as the corresponding width of the bracket 18.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate the improved putting guide in use. The golfer assumes the proper putting stance as shown by the shoe outlines L and R, for left and right respectively. Wing nut 32 is loosened and bracket 18 slipped over the left foot to the position shown. It should be noted that the legs 22 and 24, being resilient, will adjust themselves for a limited range of shoe widths. Interchangeable brackets may be made in several standard widths to accommodate the wide variety of widths ranging in childrens, womens and mens shoes. The proper size bracket should be chosen in which the legs 22 and 24 will exert a slight pressure on the sides of the shoe to hold it firmly in place. Ball B is now placed in the proper position for the putt and the guide 10 is adjusted so that the edge 12 is oriented the proper distance from the feet of the golfer and generally in line with the cup, proper allowance being made for the contour of the putting surface. Wing nut 32 is now tightened to lock the support 14 in adjusted position on bracket 18.

Putter P is now positioned slightly behind ball B with the shaft S in contact with the edge 12 of guide member 10 and with the head of the putter at right angles to the direction of movement indicated by arrows A. Thereafter the putter is swung backward and then forward to impact the ball B and this forward motion is continued through the usual follow through portion of the stroke. During the entire backward and forward swings the shaft of the putter rests against and is guided by the edge 12 of guide member 10 so that the club head is forced to swing in one plane with a true pendulum motion. The use of the guide facilities visual detection of hooking or variation of the club head from the proper orientation normal to the plane of swing, and impresses on the golfer this necessity for the club face being at right angles to the direction of swing and the intended path of the ball at the moment of impact and of continuing this relationship during at least a considerable portion of the follow-through portion of the swing. In other words, the edge 12 fuctions not only as a physical guide for the putter but also is a clearly visible line of reference enabling the golfer to detect any tendency on his part to twist the club away from the proper orientation normal to the plane of swing. The plastic guide rail 10 prevents damage to the club while sliding along edge 12.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A putting guide for golfers comprising: a bracket having the shape of an inverted U and dimensioned to fit a over a golfers shoe, the legs of said inverted U having, at their free ends, inwardly extending flanges adapted to contact the ground and be engaged by the sole of a golfers shoe, a golf club guide rail spaced horizontally from said bracket and of a length several times as great as the distance between said legs, a support arm extending horizontally to said bracket and secured to said guide rail at a point intermediate the ends thereof, and means for adjustably connecting said support arm to said bracket with said rail disposed in a plane at a greater height than the plane containing said flanges.

2. A putting guide according to claim I wherein said legs are flexible topermit accommodation of the bracket to variously sized shoes.

3. A putting guide as claimed in claim 1 in which said means includes a slot in said support arm, a threaded stud on said bracket extending through said slot and a clamp nut on said stud, said support arm being the sole support means for the guide rail and said support arm being angularly adjustable about said stud as an axis as Well as being adjustable in the direction of said slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, ANTON O. OECHSLE,

Examiners. G. J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PUTTING GUIDE FOR GOLFERS COMPRISING: A BRACKET HAVING THE SHAPE OF AN INVERTED U AND DIMENSIONED TO FIT OVER A GOLFER''S SHOE, THE LEG OF SAID INVERTED U HAVING AT THEIR FREE ENDS, INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES ADAPTED TO CONTACT THE GROUND AND BE ENGAGED BY THE SOLE OF A GOLFER''S SHOE, A GOLF CLUB GUIDE RAIL SPCED HORIZONTALLY FROM SAID BRACKET AND OF A LENGTH SEVERAL TIMES AS GREAT AS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID LEGS, A SUPPORT ARM EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY TO SAID BRACKET AND SECURED TO SAID GUIDE RAIL AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY CONNECTING SAID SUPPORT ARM TO SAID BRACKET WITH SAID RAIL DISPOSED IN A PLANE AT A GREATER HEIGHT THAN THE PLANE CONTAINING SAID FLANGES. 